Blacking out ships while still providing for the ventilation thereof



M. N. ANGELANT April 27, 1943.

BLACKING OUT SHIPS WHILE STILL PROVIDING FOR THE VENTILATION THEREOF Filed Aug. 20, 1941 Patented Apr. 27, 1943 BLACKING OUT SHIPS WHILE STILL PRO Marcel Ney Angelant, Melbourne,

Australia VlDING FOR THE VENTILATION THERE- Victoria,

Application August 20, .1941, Serial No. 407,636 In Australia October 8; 1940 3 Claims. v.(Cl. 9837) This invention relates to means whereby ships can be blacked out while still providing for the ventilation of the same.

At present, the usual practise adopted to conceal the lights in a cabin or room of a ship is to paint the window or port black but as this involves closing the port air is excluded. In many cases this involves inconvenience, especially in warm latitudes, and it is this defect in the present mode that this invention has been designed to cure.

To this end, means are provided which can be readily fitted into an open port hole in a ships side or in a room in the superstructure of a ship that will effectively prevent the rays of light within the room from passing outward through the port while at the same time free access of air to the room from outside the ship is provided.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows the device in longitudinal section fitted into a port hole.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of same adapted to engage a rectangular port.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of part of the device showing means for supporting same in a port hole that may be somewhat too large for the waist of same to closely engage.

Fig. 4 is a like view showing part of the appliance and is a modification of the outwardly extending arcuate vane of Fig. 1.

Referring to Figure l, in the ships side or superstructure 5 are openings or port holes that are usually bounded by a ring 6. The device now to be described is adapted to be supported in said port or opening and consists, in the case of a round port, of a light annular ring I made to a diameter such as to nicely fit the port and to be secured therein by frictional contact with the ring 6. Extending at right angles from the annulus 1 is a flange 8, preferably formed integral therewith and which, when the device is properly in position, will overlap the port or opening to lie close against the ships side within the room. By means of this flange light rays are prevented from escaping between the annulus l and the ring 6. Extending into the room from flange 8 is a hollow frustum of a cone-shaped member 9 which can be formed integrally with the part 1. superposed upon the frustum is a narrower annulus l0 the open end of which is covered but not entirely closed by a disc I I supported thereon by the brackets or clips l2. Within the hollow frustum is another disc l3, that should be parallel with disc ll, supported on the frustum surface by the brackets l4 and so set therein as to leave a space between the edge of the disc and the wall of the frustum for the circulation of air that will circulate from outside the ship by way of the arrows through annulus 7, around disc 53, through member Ill and under disc ll into the cabin or room. I

'If desirable, the annulus 1 may extend at one side beyond the ships side in the form of an arcuate plate I5 to constitute a wind vane and the member 9 is provided with handles or grips l6 secured upon its outside surface. The handles will assist in manipulating the device as it is being set in or removed from a port hole. If the ship is proceeding in the direction of the arrow I! the vane IE will collect the air to be passed inwards in the manner explained.

In Figure 2 the annulus l is replaced by the rectangular liner Ila to nicely fit a rectangular port, the other operative parts being substantially the same functionally as those already described. If desired, the liner may be deepened rearwardly (as shown) to project beyond the port hole to collect air while the ship is proceeding in the direction of the arrow ll. The liner should be provided with a flange similar, and having a like function, to the flange 8 of Figure 1.

To facilitate ready adjustment or the device in port holes the exact dimensions of which may vary, the annulus 1 can be provided with outstanding springy members such as l8, Figure 3, that are stamped out from the metal of the annulus. These possess some resiliency and are slightly compressed when the annulus is forced into the port: these should only be used to accommodate the device in a port the bore of which is only slightly greater than the diameter of the annulus 1.

In Figure 4, I show a modificat on of the air intake feature of Figure 1 whereby a current of air will be induced to enter the device from either fore or aft the ship. This is efiected by using a hollow frustum l9, that is shown attached to the disc or mask l 3 that closes it at the top, and which extends slightly beyond the ships side with a space all round for the admission of air to flow through the device to the interior of the cabin or room. This modification provides for the free admission of air to continue should the direction of the wind change or the ships course be altered. The base of said member 19 will have approximately the same diameter as the annulus 1.

The flange 8 may, if desired, seat upon a felt or rubber gasket to further assist in preventing the escape of light rays through the joint between the port hole and the annulus seating therein. Referring again to Figure 4, the member l9 can be supported upon the annulus I by clips similar to the clips 12 or I4, as well as to the disc l3 as already explained. I need notconfine myself to these aids for the discs II and I3 which may be supported as in say Figure 1, through a bolt, centrally joined to each disc and extending outwardly through l3 to seat upon and be attached into a cross member or strap supported diametrically in annulus I. It has not been deemed necessary to illustrate such in the drawing.

By means therefore of the parts described, light rays will be prevented from escaping by way of an open port hole while the outside air will be free to enter the cabin or room.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the character described including an annulus adapted to fit into an open porthole of a ship, a truncated hollow cone extending inwardly from the annulus, an extension continuing from the cone, a disc over but not closing the open end ,of said extension and a further disc supported within the frustum of said hollow cone in such a way as to permit the passage of air inwards through the annulus, be-

tween the disc and the frustum to and through said extension, and a flange extending from the annulus to engage the inside Wall of the ship.

2. An annulus adapted to fit into an open porthole of a ship, a truncated hollow cone extending inwardly from the annulus, an extension continuing from the cone a disc over but not closing the open end of said extension, a further disc supported within the frustum of said hollow cone in such a way as to permit the passage of air inwards through the annulus, between the disc and the frustum to and through said extension, a flange at right angles with the annulus extending therefrom to engage the inside wall of the ship and an arcuate vane extending from said annulus outwardly beyond the side of the 

